Albuquerque, N.M. -
It was only fitting that it is was a defender who netted the golden-goal as the third-ranked UC Santa Barbara men's soccer team earned its way to a historic 1-0 double-overtime victory over six-time and defending National Champion No. 1 Indiana at the UNM adidas/Crescent Financial Solutions Invitational. Freshman defender Andy Iro (Liverpool, Eng.) climbed up to float a head ball over Hoosier keeper Jay Nolly with just over five minutes remaining to extend the Gauchos perfect start to 5-0-0, all by way of shutout. The loss was IU first of the season, dropping the top-ranked squad to 5-1-0 and snapping the program's 23-game unbeaten streak.

Once again it was the UCSB defense that a kept their perfect record shining, holding Indiana, who had been averaging 21.6 shots and 2.8 goals per game, to just 15 shots in regulation and 19 overall. Senior Dan Kennedy posted his fifth straight shutout to start the season between the pipes, making seven saves to extend his streak of consecutive minutes without allowing a goal to 464:23, surpassing his previous best of 454:58. Kennedy has blanked his opponents in eight of the Gauchos' last nine matches and has not allowed a regular season goal in 703:37 minutes.

What is most impressive is that UCSB kept itself in position to beat the consensus No. 1 team in the nation playing a man down from the 91:31 minute mark when senior Tony Lochhead recieved a red card, until Indiana Danny O'Rouke recieved his second yellow of match at 101:44.

The Gauchos game-winning goal started with a free kick in the right corner when sophomore forward Tino Nunez was double-teamed and taken down just outside the box. Junior midfielder Nate Boyden, who had played an excellent match defensively in the middle, played the set piece into the box. After bouncing around junior midfielder Corey Wood put the ball on frame forcing Nolly to make the save, but Iro was there to collect the rebound and floated the ball into the top left corner.

Despite being limited to just two shots combined on the night, senior forwards Drew McAthy and Neil Jones did an excellent job defensively for Santa Barbara by dropping back into midfield, especially when they were outmanned in overtime. The win in fact was the senior class' 50th, Kennedy, McAthy, Jones, and defenders Jon Apilado and Matt Bly accomplished a feat that no other class has ever in UCSB soccer history.

The Gauchos, who are now 11-0 in regular season tournament play over the last four years, will now face Columbia tomorrow evening to close out their UNM Invitational.